Why does Eden, the first beauty of Virginia, reject the most brilliant admirers and prefer the sad fate of an old maid to family joys? Why does Sebastian, the most cynical of the seducers of Virginia high society, suddenly realize that his contempt and distrust of women is a monstrous mistake? And finally, is it possible that the risky political game into which Eden and Sebastian are unwillingly drawn will become for them the road not to death, but to the burning, great happiness of shared love?...